What does Habanos S.A. have to do?

[CaptainQuintero]

  A combo of A and B, but I'm not steadfast enough to deny myself in the future if prices drop (ha!)

 Personally, the QC isn't good enough to warrant the current prices for me. It's been a crap shoot for a long time, and one of the reasons why Rob's involvement in casting his eye over stock was such a great system. Even still, knowing you can get 4/5 duds, never mind a whole box, was niggling a decade ago, but at current prices is completely unacceptable.

 If they want the product to reflect the 1930-40's idea of luxury then they need to reflect the product quality of that time also. Barry at my local ragtag market can't start charging Rolex prices for his knock off Casios just because he wants a new car.

 I don't think much will change until the regime collapses and the tobacco sector in Cuba is transformed. But we've been saying that for donkeys years.

 What Rob and Hamlet have been doing is more than a poke in the eye to the Cuban industry, it's shamed them in my eyes. Fantastic product that actually reflects the modern incarnation of that 1920/30's luxury alongside the respect and personal bonds that I imagine business - client relationships had back then.

[Vetteman]

22 hours ago, LordAnubis said:

If you didn’t know what the old price was, would you still chose NC? Effectively you’re saying that the NC product is better in all regards currently? 

I don’t think it’s so much the “knowing”. It’s  the actual buying history. If I was just entering the world of cigars now, I think I would buy both to the extent my budget allowed, but not the 90% Cubans it was over the years before the major price change. And it wouldn’t be the quantity I used to purchase.
Better in all regards now? No, not for me. I’ve preferred the taste of Cubans since I first started smoking them and still do. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Price and selection are the foundation. Consumers are used to the inconsistency of manufacture from Habanos. 

The Habanos love affair is dwindling when 90% of the joy can be had for half the price. 

 

[SCgarman]

16 hours ago, Grimlock said:

A box of $25 Padrons has 25 smokable cigars. A box of $25 D4's has 18 smokable cigars, 5 that are smokeable after being stabbed to death by a perfecdraw and 2 hopeless tent pegs (and that's if you get a good box). QC has not improved with the price increase. Davidoff sells well at high prices but there are almost no construction issues. I am still a buyer of CC but not nearly at the rate of previous years due to the combo of high prices and crap construction. 

The fact that the "Perfecdraw" tool you mention had to be invented because some American that enjoyed smoking Monte 2s, but many were unsmokeable because of draw/bad construction issues speaks volumes. He didn't invent it because his Arturo Fuentes or Padron Anniversaries were plugged and unsmokeable. 😉

[VeguerosMAN]

If you are a new CC smoker it's not as painful as old time CC smokers, when CCs were cheaper than most Non-Cubans. I can't justify paying 3 to 4 times more now for the same cigars that I used to buy in 2018-2020.

[JohnnyO]

On 2/1/2025 at 8:49 AM, El Presidente said:

How would a  HSA AI respond?   

 

Dear Jon

if you need to justify price for one reason or another......I am not for you.  

if you are content with other tobaccos ......I am not for you. 

It is not you it is me. We loved each other once but simply grew apart. We have different needs and I have decided to focus on my own wellbeing. 

I have made new wonderful friends. I am seeing someone new. 

I hope you find the same happiness in the DR or Nicaragua.

Don't contact me again.....

 

Dont call us, we'll call you...

[SCgarman]

20 hours ago, VeguerosMAN said:

If you are a new CC smoker it's not as painful as old time CC smokers, when CCs were cheaper than most Non-Cubans. I can't justify paying 3 to 4 times more now for the same cigars that I used to buy in 2018-2020.

If I had a crystal ball, 10 years ago when I was paying $185/box for RASS, I would have bought at least 20 boxes or so. Same with Monte 4 at $150/box. Who knew?! Those starting out now have no idea!

[Cestis4]

If the Chinese demand keeps going up along with the amount they’re willing to pay, HSA won’t give a damn what we think. I personally will keep buying until I can’t afford them. 

[HDGSN]

B